Feeding bottle having integral opening means



S. J. KOLL 3,477,603

FEEDING BOTTLE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENING MEANS Nov. 11, 1969 Filed Nov. 30, 1967 STA/v15) J/(OLL J %@ar A'TTORNEY United States Patent 3,477,603 FEEDING BOTTLE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENING MEANS Stanley J. Koll, Keansburg, N.J., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 686,856 Int. Cl. A61j 9/08, 11/04; B65d 43/02 US. Cl. 215-11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A completely sterile, infant formula package which is a self-contained unit comprising a container, nipple and overlying sealing cap which safeguards the container contents against contamination and undetected tampering. The cap is easily and quickly removed by means of the unaided hand causing the nipple to automatically assume an erect feeding position.

This invention is directed to a sterile, self-contained, infant feeding bottle combination and is particularly concerned with an improved closure seal for such bottle.

The concept of marketing fully prepared infant formula in ready to use sterile bottles is achieving increasing popularity. The added benefit derived by the consumer in the convenience of this package, dispensing with all the time and paraphernalia required for the mixing of formula and sterilizing of bottles, far outweighs the small increased cost involved. The most desirable application of this concept embodies a completely self-contained sterile unit comprising a bottle, nipple and sealing cap which requires no more than removal of the sealing cap as preparation for use. Such an arrangement completely eliminates the need for separate packaging and subsequent handling of the nipple.

It becomes at once apparent that the design and construction of the sealing cap element employed in the above described infant formula package is of the utmost importance and it is improvement in this element particularly that gives rise to the instant invention. It is ess'ential-that the cap completely seal the entire upper end portion of the bottle which end portion also includes means for retention of a nipple thereon. It is of equal importance that such sealing cap be tamperproof so as to render any attempted removal of the cap immediately detectable. Quick and effortless removal of the cap from the bottle through the sole use of the unaided hand is necessary to meet the needs of the convenience minded consumer.

The infant formula package disclosed by this invention includes a sealing cap satisfying all of the above described requirements. The invention embodies a sealing cap formed of lightweight sheet metal having a top panel surrounded by a depending skirt. A tear strip defined by a pair of weakened tearing lines is formed in the cap top and skirt commencing at the free edge of the skirt in an outwardly extending pull member. Through this construction the infant formula pack-age is completely and effectively sealed off as a sterile self-contained unit which can be easily opened by the consumer with the unaided hand.

As a further improvement over existing arrangements the sealing cap herein disclosed is provided with means whereby the nipple is caused to spring up automatically and with a positive action to an erect feeding position upon removal of the cap thus eliminating any need for the consumers hands to come in contact with the sterile nipple. In conjunction with the provision of the above described automatic nipple spring up means, that portion of the cap top which holds the nipple in its retracted 3,477,603 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 stored position is contoured to preserve the natural shape to which the nipple is originally molded. These improvements are all embodied in'an infant formula package sealing cap which is an integrally formed member capable of being economically manufactured under high speed production conditions.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved self-contained infant feeding bottle combination.

A further object is to provide a tamperproof hand removable sealing cap for self-contained infant formula packages.

Another object is to provide an infant feeding bottle which can be instantly prepared for use by merely pulling on a tear strip pull member.

Other and more detailed objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out as the description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the feeding bottle combination in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the feeding bottle sealing p;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the feeding bottle combination with the sealing cap partially torn away;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the feeding bottle with the cap removed and the nipple in erect feeding position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the sealing cap in FIG. 1 showing an intermediate stage in the cap manufacture;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5 show ing the finished form of the cap; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a modified form of sealing cap.

Considering first the entire feeding bottle combination as shown in FIG. 1 it can be seen that the bottle is provided with a neck 1 terminating in an open end surrounded by a finish 2 having an upper end surface 3, a radially outwardly facing surface 4 and an undercut surface 5. A circumferentially enlarged locking ring 6 also having an upper surface 7, a radially outwardly facing surface 8 and an undercut surface 9, is positioned on the neck 1 below the finish 2 and spaced therefrom by a narrow channel section 10 which is bordered by the finish undercut surface 5 and the locking ring upper surface 7. An insert 11 having an upwardly opening cup shaped configuration extends down into the neck 1 and is provided with a peripheral flange 12 which rests on the finish upper end surface 3. The function of the insert 11 is to prevent the bottle contents from remaining in contact with the nipple over an extended period. A plurality of apertures 13 are formed in the flange 12. A feeding nipple 14 overlies the insert 11 and is secured on the bottle finish 2 by means of a radially inwardly directed lip 15 which extends into the channel section 10 and tightly grips the undercut surface 5 on the finish 2. A flexible gasketing portion 16 is formed about the periphery of the nipple 14 extending radially outwardly of the lip 15. A radially inwardly facing insert retaining seat 17 is formed in the nipple wall at a position spaced upwardly from the lip 15. The feeding nipple is provided with a rounded end portion 18 suitably 'apertured at 19 to allow the passage of liquid therethrough.

The bottle, nipple and insert are all held as a completely sterile, self-contained unit by means of an overlying sealing cap formed of lightweight sheet metal and generally indicated at 20. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the sealing cap 20 comprises a top panel 21 surrounded by a depending skirt 22. The skirt 22 joins the top panel 21 in a gradually radiused portion 23 and terminates in a lowermost free edge 24. A tear strip 25 is formed in the cap 20 defined by a pair of weakened tearing lines 26 formed by scoring of the metal. The score lines 26 extend up across the cap skirt in substantially parallel relationship and then diverge outwardly away from each other in their extent across the cap top in order to facilitate removal of the torn cap from the bottle. The tear strip 25 commences at the skirt free edge 24 in a pull member which extends downwardly for a short distance at 29 and then outwardly and downwardly away from the cap skirt terminating in a ring formation 27 suitably sized for reception of a persons finger.

The cap top panel 21 is formed with a centrally positioned upwardly protruding dimple 28 which in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 commences in a gradual upward form just radially inwardly of the radiused juncture portion 23. In sealed position the lower edge portion of the cap skirt 22 is formed radially inwardly in tight engagement with the undercut surface 9 of the locking ring 6. The interior of the cap in the approximate area of the radiused juncture portion 23 bears directly against the gasketing portion 16 and the insert retaining seat 17 on the nipple 14. With this relationship the cap 20 effectively seals off the upper end of the bottle neck 1 and in addition forces the nipple wall down against the peripheral flange 12 of the insert 11 so as to seal off the apertures 13 against the passage of liquid therethrough into sustained contact with the interior of the nipple.

The nipple end 18 extends above the finish 2 and the I seal 17 and engages the under surface of the cap dimple 28. The curvature of the dimple 28 helps to preserve the desirable rounded form of the nipple which in time would otherwise tend to become flattened out. This arrangement of the cap dimple holding the nipple end 18 in stored position at a point spaced above the bottle finish 2 aids in assuring the immediate and automatic springing up of the nipple to feeding position upon removal of the cap. This action is illustrated in the showing in FIG. 3 wherein the ring 27 has been pulled up away from the cap 20 separating the tear strip 25 therefrom. As soon as the portion of the dimple 28 located in the tear strip 25 is removed, the nipple is unrestrained and springs up through the opening created by removal of the tear strip. Continued pulling of the ring 27 lifts the torn cap off of the bottle neck whereupon the nipple assumes its erect feeding position as illustrated in FIG. 4. Partial tearing of the cap and removal from the bottle are caused by a single smooth continuous movement and are only described separately for purposes of clarity. It can also be seen in FIG. 4 how upward movement of the nipple 14 also causes the insert retaining seat 17 to move away from the finish upper surface 3 carrying with it the insert 11. This allows the bottle contents to flow past the bottle finish and through the apertures 13 into the nipple.

FIGS. and 6 show in detail the relationship of the dimple 28 to the score lines 26. FIG. 5 illustrates a cap having a preformed dimple 28a. The center portion of the top panel 21 between the score lines 26 is subjected to a metal drawing operation causing a thinning of the metal in the preformed dimple 2811. It is necessary to have this drawn dimple within the tear strip 25 in order to avoid rupturing of the score lines 26 during the cap manufacture. FIG. 6 shows the finished dimple 28 wherein the drawn dimple 28a is subsequently subjected to a mild forming operation which increases the height of the dimple without any appreciable reduction in the metal thickness. Here it can be seen that since the score lines can easily withstand the mild forming operation the contour of the finished dimple 28 is not confined to the area between the score lines. FIG. 7 shows a slightly modified form of a cap 30 having a top panel 31 surrounded by a depending skirt 32.

In the cap 30 the complete dimple 38 is drawn between the score lines 36. This construction is similar to that of FIG. 6 in that no appreciable thinning of the metal at the score lines occurs during the cap manufacture as the drawn metal lies within the score lines.

Changes in the invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is accordingly to be understood that the article described in the foregoing and shown in the accompanying drawing is to be considersd as being illustrative of the invention and not set forth in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A feeding bottle combination comprising a bottle, a neck on said bottle terminating in an open end, a finish surrounding said open end, a flexible feeding nipple secured to said finish, said nipple having a rounded and apertured feeding end, a locking ring on said bottle neck below said finish, a lightweight .metal sealing cap including a top panel surrounded by a depending skirt terminating in a lowermost free edge, a tear strip formed in said cap commencing in a tearing ear extending away from said skirt free edge, said sealing cap overlying said finish with said skirt formed into sealing engagement with said bottle neck below said locking ring, means located in said cap top panel for exerting a downwardly directed restraining force on said end of said nipple, said means being operatively connected to said tearing ear whereby the initial upward pulling on said tearing ear releases said restraining force and continued upward pulling on said tearing ear in a single continuous motion effects complete removal of said sealing cap from said locking ring allowing said nipple to spring up to fully raised feeding position.

2. A feeding bottle as in claim 1, and said tearing ear including a ring shaped portion for reception of a persons finger.

3. A feeding bottle as in claim 1, wherein said means for exerting a downwardly directed force is spaced above said finish.

4. A feeding bottle as in claim 1, said means located in said cap top for exerting a downwardly directed force comprising a downwardly facing concave surface.

5. A feeding bottle as in claim 4, wherein said downwardly facing concave surface is carried by an upwardly drawn dimple.

6. A feeding bottle as in claim 4 wherein said downwardly facing concave surface is carried by an upwardly drawn and formed dimple.

7. A feeding bottle as in claim 1, said sealing cap including a pair of score lines in said skirt and top portion-s commencing at either side of said tearing ear.

8. A feeding bottle as in claim 7, said means located in said cap top for exerting a downwardly directed force comprising a dimple having a drawn portion bordered by said score lines.

9. A feeding bottle as in claim 1, and said tear strip extending up across said cap skirt and into said top panel.

10. A feeding bottle as in claim 9 and said restraining means comprising a portion of said top panel tear strip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,393,817 7/1968 Meierhoefer 215-11 3,339,771 9/1967 Ballin 21511 3,380,609 4/1968 Potts 215-46 XR GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R, 

